MAZDA SPORT-UTILITY VEHICLES LEAD MARCH SALES CHARGE

- SKYACTIV® TECHNOLOGY Accounts for More Than Half of Mazda's Total Sales -

IRVINE, Calif., April 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported March U.S. sales of 32,028 vehicles, representing a decrease of 1.1 percent versus last year. Year-to-date sales through March are down 4.6 percent versus last year, with 78,283 vehicles sold.

Key March sales notes:

Mazda CX-5 celebrated its best month ever with 7,116 vehicles sold, accounting for a 96.1 percent increase versus last year.

Mazda CX-9 also recorded its best month ever with 4,281 vehicles sold, up 123.8 percent versus last year.

The all-new 2014 Mazda6 reported sales of 2,702 vehicles, equating to a 107.8 percent increase versus last month. With three months of availability in dealerships, and inventory growing nationwide, the 2014 Mazda6 continues to gain traction, garner media accolades, nominations and awards.

In the U.S., Mazda's total SKYACTIV® TECHNOLOGY vehicle sales for March (comprised of CX-5, 2014 Mazda6 and certain models of Mazda3) accounted for 55.3 percent of the company's total sales for the month and dominated Mazda3 sales with 75.2 percent of all Mazda3s sold.

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported March sales of 2,442 vehicles, up 17.0 percent versus March of last year.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through more than 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.